Lighter



p 9, 1969 P. RABE 3,466,134

LIGHTER Filed Sept. 26, 1967 I i Q J l United States Patent 3,466,134 LIGHTER Peter Rabe, Grimmstrasse 7, Muhlheim am Main, Germany Filed Sept. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 670,624 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 28, 1966,

Int. Cl. F2311 2/46 Us. Cl. 431-152 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a lighter of the type having an actuating member which is movable between an inoperative position and operative position, a coupling member which couples the actuating element to the supporting structure of the lighter. The coupling member is connected for turning movement about a first pivot axis to the supporting structure, and for turning movement about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis to the actuating element. A

Background of the invention The present invention relates to lighters in general, and more particularly to the type of lighter in which operation is controlled by an actuating element which is displaceable from an inoperativelposition to an operative position.

Lighters are known, whether they be of the type utilizing a wick or a gaseous fluid which does not require a wick, in which the lighter operation is effected by pressing against an actuating member and moving the same from an inoperative position to an operative position by finger pressure. The actuating member is generally coupled with a cover member which, when the actuating member is in an inoperative position, overlies the burner structure and/ or other parts of the lighter which are to be protected, and which is withdrawn in response to movement of the actuating member to the operative position thereof. As a general rule, the majority of these lighters is provided with spark wheels which turn and in conjunction with a flint provide the spark which ignites the fuel. 'This wheel is usually coupled with the actuating member so that,

when the latter is moved to the operative position thereof, that is by being depressed, the wheel is turned to provide the spark.

Movement of the actuating member must be effected against the force of a restoring spring, which tends to permanently bias the actuating member to the inoperative position thereof so that, when pressure is released from the actuating member once the lighter has served its purpose, the actuating member is returned from its operative position to its inoperative position. This biasing action of the restoring spring is exerted continuously and is particularly strong when the actuating member is in the operative position thereof. It is clear, of course, that if the actuating member is to be maintained in the operative position for a relatively long period of time, for instance if the cigars, cigarettes, or the like of several persons are to be lighted successively, or if it is for example difficult to light a pipe, the necessity for maintaining the acutating member in operative position against the relatively 3,466,134 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 considerable force of the restoring spring can be bothersome to the user who must, after all, continue to exert finger pressure on the actuating member. At first sight it would seem to be possible to obviate this problem by simply utilizing a somewhat weaker restoring spring. This, however, is not generally possible because the cover member or cap, which is connected with the actuating member and which is urged to its closed condition by the latter and therefore by the restoring springis usually intended to engage the lighter housing or other parts of the lighter supporting structure with a relatively considerable force so as to prevent its accidental displacement away from the lighter components which it is intended to protect, and frequently to etfect sealing of these components against the intrusion of dust or the like. In the: case of lighters using a gaseous fluid the spring usually also effects closure of the burner valve through a suitable linkage arrangement.

Aside from the aforementioned undesirable necessity to exert relatively great finger pressure on the actuating member so as to maintain the same in the operative position thereof against the restoring action of the restoring spring, known lighter constructions of the type utilizing a spark wheel to produce a spark from a. flint suffer from another disadvantage. The movement of the actuating member between the inoperative and the operative positions thereof is relatively small. Yet, during this relatively small movement it is necessary that the spark wheel which, as pointed out before, is connected with the actuating member so as to be rotated thereby during movement of the same, must be given the maximum possible rotational speed so that it will produce adequate sparks by contact with the fiint. While the arrangement and cooperation of the various movable members, including the spark wheel, for this particular purpose presents no great problem, it is well known that improvements in the speed of movement of the actuating member from the inoperative to the operative position thereof-and therefore in the rotation of the spark wheel--which are obtained in this manner, are counteracted by the fact that the restoring spring opposes to such movement a. force which increases proportionately to the advancement of the actuating member from the inoperative to the operative position thereof. Thus, the desired increased speed of movement is counteracted by this force.

Summary of the invention The present invention overcomes these disadvantages and provides the advantages which have been characterized above as desirable in this field.

More particularly, the present invention provides a lighter in which the restoring spring no longer exerts an inhibiting action on the speed with which the actuating member moves from its inoperative position to its operative position.

The present invention also provides a lighter wherein. the force, for instance the force of finger pressure, re quired for maintaining the actuating member in the operative position thereof is substantially less than that which is required to move it from its inoperative position towards its operative position.

My novel construction in accordance with the present invention is relatively-simple and inexpensive, and therefore lends itself readily to manufacture on a large scale. It does not add significantly to the expense of a lighter.

In accordance with one feature of my invention I provide, in a lighter of the type wherein an actuating element is connected to a supporting element, such as a lighter housing or the like, for movement from an inoperative to an operative position, a coupling member which couples the actuating element to the supporting element. This coupling member is connected to the supporting element for turning movement relative thereto about a first pivot axis, and it is further connected to the actuating element for turning movement about a second pivot axis which extends parallel to the first pivot axis. Biasing means is associated with both of these elements and is operative for permanently urging the actuating element to the operative position thereof. Such action of the biasing means in itself is not novel. However, in accordance with my invention the biasing means comprises a first end portion which is connected in known manner to the supporting element and a second end portion which is connected to the coupling member in such a manner that it has freedom of movement relative thereto from one point at which it is farthest spaced from the first pivot axis to another point at which it is located closer to the first pivot axis, such movement taking place in response to movement of the actuating element from the inoperative to the operative position thereof.

It will be seen that thus the point at which the force exerted by the restoring spring acts upon the coupling member shifts from a position in which it is relatively far away from the first pivot axis towards a position in which it is relatively close to the pivot axis, as the actuating element or member moves from its inoperative position to its operative position. Thus, the force exerted in the inoperative position of the actuating element upon the coupling member is greater than the force which is exerted on the coupling member when the actuating element is in the operative position thereof, that is when the point at which the force is exerted by the restoring spring upon the coupling member is located closest to the first pivot axis. The effective force thus can be reduced to a fraction of what is otherwise necessary, for instance to one half. Furthermore, it is possible to so position the point at which the spring engages the coupling member when the actuating element is in its inoperative position that the restoring spring, usually a contraction spring, will not be continuously expanded during the movement of the actuating element from inoperative position to operative position. Both of these characteristics individually, and particularly in combination with one another, afford a construction in accordance with the present invention wherein the restoring force exerted on the actuating member can be selected at will as has heretofore been the case, while the finger pressure which is necessary for maintaining the actuating element in its operative position is much smaller than has heretofore been the case in a lighter structure in which a corresponding restoring force was exerted by the restoring spring. Furthermore, and also in accordance with the present invention, the reduction in the pressure required for maintaining the actuating element in its operative position becomes effective before the movement of the actuating element from inoperative position to operative position is completed so that during the latter part of such movement the originally exerted finger pressure is greater than that actually required for effecting continued movement of the actuating element, whereby during the latter part of the movement the advance of the actuating element is accelerated, resulting in a concomitant acceleration of the rotation of the spark wheel, and in the desired production of adequate sparks.

In fact, in accordance with the present invention the restoring force can be increased, for instance by selecting a stronger restoring spring, to thereby provide an improved sealing function for the cap member of the lighter without requiring the user to maintain the actuating element in the operative position thereof under a finger pressure whose requisite magnitude might be considered objectionable.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary vertical section through a portion of a lighter embodying my invention, the actuating element being shown in inoperative position;

FIG. 2. is a section similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating only a fraction of that figure and showing the actuating element in operative position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

Description of the preferred embodiment Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that there is shown a lighter portion 1, which may constitute a fuel tank, a portion of the housing or the like. The lighter portion 1 carries a burner structure 2 and a support element 3. A coupling member 5 is mounted for turning movement to the support element 3 about a fixed pivot axis 4. A closure member or cap member 7 is also mounted to the support element 3, namely for pivot movement relative thereto about a fixed pivot axis 6. An actuating element 8 is provided and this is connected for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 10 with the cap member 7. The coupling member 5 is connected with the actuating element 8 for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 9, and this pivot axis is fixed with reference to the actuating element 8 but is movable with reference to the pivot axis 4, as will become apparent hereafter. Biasing means, which in this embodiment is represented as a contraction spring 11, is connected with one end portion 12 thereof to a projection 13 of the support element 3, and with its other end 14 to the coupling member 5. As FIG. 1 shows, coupling member 5 in the illustrated embodiment is provided with an elongated slot 16 which extends radially of the pivot axis 4. It is to be understood that it is not necessary for the entire slot 16 to extend radially of the pivot axis 4, because it would be sufiicient if a portion would have this relationship with this pivot axis. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment a roller 17, which is turnably mounted on the end portion 14- of the contraction spring 11, is received in the slot 16 so that it can roll along one or both lateral faces which bound the slot 16 and which constitute cam faces.

FIG. 2 illustrates that when a force P, for instance finger pressure, is exerted on the actuating element 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow which is associated with P, the actuating element 8 will move downwardly from its inoperative position towards its operative position which is illustrated in FIG. 2. As this takes place, the cap member 7 turns about the pivot axis 6 in clockwise direction, while at the same time the coupling member 5 also turns in the same direction about the pivot axis 4. During the initial movement of the actuating element 8 in the direction of the arrow P the contraction spring 11, whose axial length in rest position is indicated with the double headed arrow b in FIG. 1, is tensioned and stretched beyond the limits indicated by the arrow b. However, as is evident from FIG. 1 the slot 16 is forwardly inclined in the inoperative position of the actuating element 8, that is it is inclined in the direction of the portion 13 of the support structure 3. Thus, as the coupling member 5 turns in clockwise direction about the pivot axis 4, the inclination of the slot 16 changes until the longitudinal extension of the slot has a component which is inclined in the direction opposite the force exerted by the spring 11. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 and it is clear that this position is acieved when the slot 11 moves beyond the dead-center position with reference to a vertical plane extending in the drawing through the pivot axis 4. Now the point at which the spring 11 engages the coupling member 5, such point being represented by the roller 17 in FIG. 1 and identified with reference numeral A, shifts from a location farthest from the pivot axis 4 in the direction towards the pivot axis 4 until it reaches a location B (compare FIG. 2) at which it is located closest to the pivot axis 4. During such movement the contraction spring contracts from its maximum extension until it reaches the extension indicated by the double-headed arrow b in FIG. 2 which, while longer than the dimension b, is nevertheless shorter than the maximum extension. At the same time, the lever action of the available force of the spring shortens from the dimension indicated by the double-headed arrow a in FIG. 1 to the dimension indicated by the two arrows a, in FIG. 2 so that, whereas a relatively great force T is necessary to effect movement of the actuating element 8 from its inoperative position to the dead-center point, the force required for continuing this movement of the actuating element 8 to its final operative position is considerably smaller. Of course, the finger pressure exerted in the direction of the arrow P will not change once the dead-center or over-center position is reached, so that during the latter part of the movement beyond the over-center position the actuating element 8 is subjected to considerable acceleration which effects the desired acceleration in the turning movement of the spark wheel (which is not illustrated because it is conventional).

Of course, the drawing clearly shows that when application of the pressure P in the direction of the arrow associated with that reference character in FIG. 2 ceases, the spring 11 will restore the actuating element 8 to its position shown in FIG. 1. As this occurs, the roller 17 and thereby the point at which the force of the spring 11 is applied to the coupling member 5, will return to the position also illustrated in FIG. 1.

Coming to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen that this differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 only in the construction and configuration of the coupling member and of the manner in which the spring is connected thereto. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the reference numerals identifying elements identical with those of FIGS. 1 and Q have been retained unchanged. The coupling member, however, is identified with reference numeral 18 and is provided at its opposite edges, that is the edge facing the end portion 12 of the spring 11 as well as the edge facing away therefrom, with two recessed cutouts. The cutout 19 on that edge which faces away from the end portion 12 of the spring 11 is inclined and the end portion 14 of the spring 11 is provided with a hookshaped formation which embraces this inclined cutout 19 so that the latter constitutes a slideway or cam face for the hook-shaped formation 20. The illustration of FIG. 3 corresponds to that of FIG. 2 in that the position of the actuating element =8 which is shown in FIG. 3 is the operative position.

FIG. 4 shows that the coupling member 18 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 consists of two identical portions 18a and 18b which are arranged mirror-symmetrically with reference to one another and to a plane extending normal to the pivot axes 4 and 9. This facilitates production of the member 18 considerably because the inclined cutouts 19 at the rearwardly directed edge face and 21 at the forwardly-directed edge face of the member 18 can both be rounded to facilitate sliding movement of the hook-shaped formation 20' therealong, while yet only a single tool is needed for producing such rounding, identified with reference numeral 22 in FIG. 4. It is to be noted that this rounded configuration 22 also reduces the danger that the relatively thin spring wire of spring 11 might cut grooves or depressions into the cam faces whereby movement of the hook-shaped end portion 20 between its two positions would become impossible or be at least impaired.

The member 5 or 18 can be produced from various different materials, for instance metal or plastic, of which polyacetal-type synthetic plastic materials have been found particularly suitable. The rounded contours 22 can be provided on the member 18, regardless whether the same is constituted of metal or synthetic plastic material, by suitable tools, for instance with a repeater device.

It is clear, of course, that the slot 16 or the cam face 19 can have various different configurations and can be positioned in various different ways with reference of their inclination towards the pivot axis 4. Thus, it is by no means necessary that these cam faces be straight inasmuch as they can also be curved for example. This makes it possible to adapt the construction for different requirements, for instance if it should be desired that the over-center point be passed during the initial movement of the actuating element 8 from inoperative to operative position, rather than during the latter part of such movement. It is also clear that the simplest type of construction in accordance with the present invention would be to have a straight cam face which, at midpoint of the movement of the member 5 (or 18) extends normal to the pivot axis 4. In all of these constructions the spring 11 is initially tensioned, that is extended, until the overcenter point has been reached, whereupon it is again allowed to contract although not to the full extent of contraction which is achieved when it is in its rest position with the actuating element 8 being in inoperative position. Thus, it is clear that the over-center type of construction is the most advantageous embodiment of the invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a lighter, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior.art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. In a lighter, the combination of a. supporting element; an actuating element; a coupling member coupling said actuating element to said supporting element for movement between an inoperative and an operative position in a first direction towards and away from said supporting element and concomitantly in. a second direction transverse to said first direction, said coupling member being connected to said supporting element for turning movement about a first pivot axis extending transversely of both of said directions, and to said actuating element for turning movement about a second pivot axis parallel to said first pivot axis; and biasing means associated with both of said elements and operative for permanently urging said actuating element to said inoperative position thereof, said biasing means comprising a first end portion connected to said supporting element and a second end portion connected to said coupling member and having freedom of movement relative thereto between one point farthest spaced from said first axis and another point closer to said first axis in response to movement of said actuating element from said inoperative to said operative position thereof.

2. In a lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a contraction spring.

3. In a lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling member comprises an inclined cam face, and wherein said second end portion of said biasing means is slidable along said cam face from said one point to said other point.

4. In a lighter as defined in claim 3, wherein a first imaginary line extending through said first and second pivot axes, and a second imaginary line extending through said one point and said first pivot axis, are inclined With reference to one another in a V-shape in the operative position of said actuating element, said first pivot axis being located at the juncture of such lines.

5. In a lighter as defined in claim 3, wherein said biasing means comprises a contraction spring, and a roller member mounted on said second portion of said contraction spring and engaging said cam face for rolling movement therealong in response to movement of said actuating element from said inoperative to said operative position.

6. In a lighter as defined in claim 3, wherein said cam face is of rounded cross-sectional contour, and wherein said biasing means comprises a contraction spring having said first and second end portions, said second end portion having a hook-shaped configuration embracing said cam face and slidable therealong from said one to said other point.

7. In a lighter as defined in claim 3, wherein said coupling member is provided with a slot bounded by opposed side faces at least one of which constitutes said cam face.

8. In a lighter as defined in claim 3, wherein said biasing means comprises an elongated contraction spring whose longitudinal axis extends transversely of said pivot axes; and wherein said coupling member comprises one edge portion facing toward said first end portion of said spring, and an other edge portion facing away from said first end portion of said spring, said other edge portion defining said cam face.

9. In a lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling member consists of two identical halves which are mirror-symmetrical with reference to a plane of symmetry extending substantially normal to said pivot axes.

10. In a lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means and said coupling member define with one another a dead center assembly constructed and arranged for opposing the movement of said actuating element in direction toward said operative position thereof with a force which diminishes in response to passage of said second end portion beyond the dead center during movement of said second end portion from said one to said other point.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 431-439 

